Power of Masakatsu & Agatsu

Masakatsu means fire, Agatsu means water. These two elements are important in creating the world, just like the balance of yin and yang, the primordial forces that created the universe. We know we need both of them in balance in order to obtain optimal results. But what do the elements of fire and water represents, how do we benefit from them?

First, before using it, we must know what is the concept of the two elements. To explain them, we need to think wider , not through logic, but through spiritual thoughts, metaphorical thinking.

Firstly, Fire. Fire is a destructive force, and a source of energy. It gives life and destroy anything. In expressive terms, we consider fire as a feeling of anger, fury or fierce. In samurai's mindset, fire is the philosophical symbol of courage. Fire spread whenever there is something that it could burn, without it, fire will easily distinguished. Therefore, it is definited as a symbol of courage and forward-looking attitude, going towards a goal with perseverance. Fire is the inspiration that made our fighting spirit lively and active. The spirit of bravery and perseverance.

Water, the elaborative element of Tao. Water is the strongest because it is the weakest. Softness can overcome the hardness. Water is soft but strategic. When being stopped, water will find other ways to flow out. It is the flow that will corrode rocks. Water is needed for us and living things, it nurture the development of living things. Water move smoothly even with obstacles. In expressive term, water represent calmness. Water is the flow of flexibility and calmness.

With fire and water fused togther, both elements helps to empower the techniques. With fire, we have the eagerness to complete the whole techniques, and not do it in doubt or confusion. With water, we are able to be flexible in doing technique in different situation. Different situation is identified by understand the opponent's strength and weakness, the swiftest way is to avoid the strong and attack the weaker point.

O' Sensei once said, "True victory is Self-victory, the day of swift victory." Self refers to the understanding of self and the opponent. Through this, techniques csn be go smoothly and completely.

Hakama, the Samurai's secret........

THE SECRET OF HAKAMA

Hakama is what we known, as a traditional samurai costume. It was commonly wear in Aikido, Kendo and some other Japanese martial arts. Hakama also means horse-riding as it protect a horseman's leg from any disturbing objects. Hakama is not a skirt, but more of a pants. The Hakama also show the values of the legendary warrior, the Samurai.

On the Hakama, there are seven folds; 5 at the front and 2 at the back. These seven folds represent the seven fundamental values of a Samurai; Courage, Benevolence, Justice, Etiquette, Honesty, Loyalty and Honor. These seven values or virtues are the spirit of the Samurai and Bushido.

Hakama, acts as a protection for the legs and also a weapon for the person. Besides holding a sword, weapons can be hidden in the Hakama for emergency defense. Covering the legs of the user, it can hide our leg movement, this disallows our opponents to see and predict our leg movement. Though this tradtional clothing restrict some of the bodily movement, it provide us the perseverance to train more in order to overcome the restrictions of the Hakama.

The Way of Open Mindedness

Aikido is the way of harmony. And to harmonize the world, the usage of the techniques alone will not help, the development of human values and addition of virtues and wisdom will also not be enough for the way of harmony. To totally harmonize with the world, we must not only harmonize with our own mind, soul and body, but also everyone, nature, the world and the cosmos.

Tao or the way is the concept of Taoism, and to gain the world, it is through acceptance and open-mindedness. To win over people's hearts, we must put our disagreement and dislike aside and accept all reasons of everyone. When O' Sensei was creating his own martial art, he studied many ancient text, not only his own religion, Shinto, but he also studied Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism and even Christianity. All these religions have a similar and whole concept, it is virtue, harmony and unity.

In O'Sensei's quotation, Aikido is not just a self defense martial art, it is also a philosophy. Harmony is open-mindedness and acceptance. All martial art have a common goal, sharing, accept and enlightment. Arrogance or Discrimnation shuold not exist. Different schools have different cultures, they have disadvantages and benefits. Putting ourselves in other people's shoes, we are able to understand the feelings and the reason behind their very actions.

Aikido is not to correct others, but to correct ourselves and then share the different experiences to the world.

Joke of the Day

Anyway, Scabies is a skin infection :)

Weapons of War!!!!

In almost every martial art. there are needs of weapons. In Taichi, straight chinese swords are used. And in Aikido, we used Jo(stick), Bokken(sword) and Tanto(knife). What are the usage of weapons and how many weapons are there in the world???

Weapons are mostly used by martial artists or warrior. Weapons are the arms of the warrior, the extra expansion of a warrior hand. For example, stick or spear are long ranged weapon. Ever long range will be archery.

In Chinese martial art, there are Eighteen weapons of War:

1. Sabre
   
2. Spear
3. Straight sword
   
4. Staff
   
5. Halberd
   
6. Axe
   
7. Battle Axe
   
8. Hook sword
   
9. Fork/ Trident
   
10. Steel whip
    
11. Mace
    
12. Hammer
    
13. Talon
    
14. Ranseur/ Trident-halberd
    
15. Lance
16. Short cudgel
    
17. Stick/ Crutches
    
18. Meteor hammer
    

These weapons are long ranged, short ranged and destructive.
For example, the sabre can be long or short ranged. The Green Dragon Sabre used by Guan Yu is a long ranged one and destructive due to it large and sharp blade, therefore it is heavy in weight and hard to handle.

Spears and lances are commonly used by soldiers or knight. They are long and light in weight. Although it is easy to control and have increased agility, but it is a soft weapon, it possess less strength than the Sabre.

The choice of weapon depend on the capabilities of the particular person, the strength, the area of space and comfort.

The Science of YONKYO!!!!

In the different kinds of Aikido locks, they are used on the bones, joints, ligament and tendon. Among all the different locks, Yonkyo is the most "special" kind of lock. In Yonkyo, the inner edge of the hand (between the thumb and the index finger) is applied to uke's upper wrist. The force is applied to the side of the part above the wrist.

Using the anatomical study of science, the force is applied to the tendon that hold the muscles of the hand and the upper arm. Locating near to these tendon were the ulnar nerve and median nerve. The Ulnar Nerve is one large unprotected nerve. With a certain force applied to the ulnar nerve, it will send sensory impulses to the brain for the sensation of pain. Therefore Yonkyo is known as a nerve pinch. The pain is more of a sharp and electric feeling of pain. But Yonkyo is not a lock that can be applied to every person, firstly the finger coordination must be correct. Sometimes a person arm is protected by a layer of fats or the different position of the nerve.

How to do a correct Yonkyo???

• The angle of the arm must be 90 degree
• Press downwards
  
• Ensure that the uke's elbow is below the level of your fingers that applied the lock
• Ensure your arms are straight
• Do not move the uke's arm sideward
• Do not hesitate on pushing down the uke's arm
  

Videos for GRADING FOR BLUE!!!!

These short clips are the fundamental techniques needed to be performed during grading from white to BLUE belt

Christian Tissier

Is Ki for Real?

KI

Ki, in Aikido, is known as the mental energy that centralized a human body. What about other views.

In Chinese, it is also know as Qi or Chi, lifebreath, that all living things requires to survive. Mencius noted that Qi is essential for human beings to carry out countless activities. It is also known as energy-flow or spirit.

In the book of changs, I Ching, it stated that Ki is the mental wave that create the two primordial forces Yin and Yang in order to develop the cosmo and make the worlds.

If there are many definition, then it is real?

Yes. It is true, According to Acupunture and chinese medicine, when the body fluids were blocked, it is said that the Ki is obstructed. Through the treatment off acupunture and chinese medical methods, the blockage is broken, enable the flow of the fluids.

Ki is the most difficult thing to control in our body, for there possesses no true appearance of it. It is unpredictable. Some people may not even believe it. In Aikido, ki is widely used, unlike strength. Strength is limited while Ki is limitless. It can improve our attacks, movements and positions spiritually and mentally.

As Ki is also the energy flow, the movement of Aikido are circular so that the ki is able to flow easily and blend with any obstacles. While using straight and squarish movement, the hitting impact will be high and at maximum.

When things develops, it will not grow straight, it will started to curve and change shapes.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

In Aikido or other martial arts or even whatever we do, in order to improve ourselves, we need to keep up the move. This means we need to PERSEVERE and be persistent in whatever we do. That is why practice makes perfect. But some Aikidokas did not persevere, yet they lost the interest in it and their attitudes started to change.

Some believe that getting black belt is enough for them to finish learning Aikido. But Aikido techniques are more than 1000, how can they finish it, it is simply a lie.

Lao Tzu, an ancient philosophy, said, "The journey of a thousand begins with a single step."

He also said:



What does this quotation means?

Firstly, observe the heaven and the skies above, the sky never stop changing, from day to night and repeatedly. The planets in the solar system never stop rotating and orbiting and the Sun never stop burning. Time never stop running and the cosmos was forever changing. Weather climate changes every time. Even the Earth and its living things never stop changing. Technology is always improving and our mindset is never still.

Aikido is the movement of nature, it flows through everywhere within the universe. If the world never stop changing and moving, we also should not stop. We must have self-development and self-improvement. Therefore we must train in excess in order to compensate the weak and empty spots. When we reached a goal, there are more other goals for us behind, we can never stop developing ourselves.


The way of Aikido -----------------------------------PERSEVERANCE

Combined Training with Horri Shihan

Consisted of:
NTU Aikido - Aikido Institute
NUS Aikido - Shinso Aikikai
Zhen Qi Shu Aikio

Date:
24th February 2009

Venue:
NUS Sports Hall

WHO SAYS LOCKS ARE UNLESS!!!!

CALMNESS is all it takes

In aikido or other martial art. calmness is the most important factor to improvement. When a normal person faces danger, he will panic in response. But if a person, who practices martial art, faces dangers, he remain calm and plan his moves silently.

We know that anger or emotions are not to be used with martial arts. If anger, revenge or emotions are expressed in martial arts, a person will lose his morality. To meditate and release the stress and emotion inside you is a wise act a person should have. Meditation help to find space for self-improvement and development. Therefore through meditation, it calm the mind down and help a person to relax and flexible.

To have calmness in mind is to clear the mind of negative thoughts. With calmness, a person regain his/her balance and alertness. And both factors are very important in area of martial art or Budo. Calmness help to change a person's attitude and behavior.

To have calmness in mind is to be flexible. When a calm person face a problem, big or small, he/she was able to plan in silence.

Therefore calmness is all it takes.

Is Aikido always for self-defense ???